Three days later, Sir Keir Starmer the charmer upped the game, whipping out a letter from the King.
President Donald Trump seems to be suggesting that a deal on rare earth minerals provides such security.
But President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's arrival at the White House is the moment of truth for their charm offensive.
It feels like "the draft" has come six weeks early - the annual selection meeting in American football.
For three or four days, teams in the NFL attempt to woo players with the most lucrative contracts.
